EVERTON are favourites to receive the FA's backing and claim a place ahead of Liverpool in next season's Champions League - even if the Reds win the European Cup later this month.

But the FA is lobbying UEFA to permit five English clubs in next season's competition and allow Rafael Benitez's side to defend their title should they triumph in the final in Istanbul on May 25.

The FA's professional game board committee will meet tomorrow and the ECHO understands the members will back the team that finishes in fourth place in the Premiership, which is most likely to be Everton.

Meanwhile, a formal request has been submitted to UEFA pressing for an additional place should Liverpool win this year's competition but finish outside the top four on the domestic front.

An FA spokesman said: "We have made our request for an additional place should the situation arise. It is UEFA's competition and we are awaiting their response."